Print head with quick release mechanism

ABSTRACT

A quick release print head includes a heating block, a nozzle tube and a connecting tube. The nozzle tube is inserted in the heating block. One end of the nozzle tube has a nozzle and the other end is extended with an extension tube exposed to the heating block. The connecting tube is connected with the extension tube. Whereby, the extension tube extended from the nozzle tune is exposed to the heating block so that the nozzle tube disposed near the heating block cannot be disassembled. Thus, a process of replacing components by heating a nozzle can be bypassed, and advantages of quick disassembly and easy maintenance of the print head can be achieved.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuing application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/630,671, filed on Jun. 22, 2017, and entitled “PRINT HEADWITH QUICK RELEASE MECHANISM”, which claims priority to CN201710322419.2filed May 9, 2017. The entire disclosures of the above application areall incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a print head, and moreparticular, to a print head with quick release mechanism.

Description of Prior Art

In a traditional three-dimensional printing machine, print materials areusually melted by a print head and then stacked on a platform, wherein atraditional print head is usually composed of a nozzle, a heating block,a throat tube, and a heat sink etc. As shown in FIG. 1, it depicts afirst embodiment of a traditional print head. A heat sink al is sleevedat an end of a throat tube a2; a nozzle a3 and a heating block a4 areintegrally formed and assembled at another end of the throat tube a2. Asshown in FIG. 2, it depicts a second embodiment of a traditional printhead. A heat sink b 1 is sleeved at an end of a throat tube b2; a nozzleb3 is assembled at another end of the throat tube b2, and a heatingblock b4 is sleeved on the nozzle b3.

However, as junctions of assembly of the above traditional print headsare located between the nozzle a3, b3 and the throat tube a2, b2, andcooling print materials are solidified and filled in the nozzle a3, b4so that clogging which needs to be eliminated is often occurred at theintersection of the nozzle a3, b3 and the throat tube 2 a, b2.Therefore, when the above traditional print head needs to be replaced orrepaired, solidified printed material must be melt by heating the nozzlea3, b3 for excluding clogging of nozzle or replacing the nozzle. As aresult, the nozzle is not easy to be disassembled, and the disassemblyafter heating is more dangerous for users.

In view of the above drawbacks, the Inventor proposes the presentinvention based on his expert knowledge and elaborate researches inorder to solve the problems of prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a printhead with quick release mechanism, in which one end of the nozzle tubehas extended with an extension tube exposed to the heating block so thatthe nozzle tube disposed near the heating block cannot be disassembled.Thus, a process of replacing components by heating a nozzle at hightemperature can be bypassed, and advantages of quick disassembly andeasy maintenance of the print head of the present invention will beachieved.

In order to achieve the object mentioned above, the present inventionprovides a print head including a heating block, a nozzle tube and aconnecting tube. The nozzle tube is inserted in the heating block. Oneend of the nozzle tube has a nozzle and the other end extended with anextension tube exposed to the heating block. The connecting tube isconnected with the extension tube.

In the above, the nozzle tube is made of stainless steel (SUS303) sothat the nozzle tube can print materials at high temperature (higherthan 300 degrees) and metal materials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth withparticularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, maybe best understood by reference to the following detailed description ofthe invention, which describes a number of exemplary embodiments of theinvention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional schematic view of a first embodiment of aprint head of prior art;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional schematic view of a second embodiment of aprint head of prior art;

FIG. 3 is a perspective assembly schematic view of a first embodiment ofa print head of prior art;

FIG. 4 is a perspective explosion schematic view of a first embodimentof a print head of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional schematic view of a first embodiment of anozzle tube and a connecting tube of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional schematic view of a first embodiment of aprint head of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional schematic view of a second embodiment of anozzle tube and a connecting tube of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional schematic view of a second embodiment of aprint head of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In cooperation with attached drawings, the technical contents anddetailed description of the invention are described thereinafteraccording to a number of preferable embodiments, being not used to limitits executing scope. Any equivalent variation and modification madeaccording to appended claims is all covered by the claims claimed by thepresent invention.

Please refer to FIG. 3 to FIG. 6, the present invention provides a firstembodiment of a print head with a quick release mechanism. The printhead 10 mainly includes a heating block 1, a nozzle tube 2 and aconnecting tube 3.

As shown in FIG. 6, the print head 10 is applied in a printer (notshown). The printer has a material tube 100, and the material tube 100is used to provide materials for printing.

As shown in FIG. 3, 4, and FIG. 6, the heating block 1 itself can beheated, and the heating block 1 approximately has a shape of a bushingand has a plurality of first internal threads 11 on an inner periphery.

As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 6, the nozzle tube 2 is inserted in theheating block 1. One end of the nozzle tube 2 has a nozzle 21 and theother end has extended with an extension tube 22 exposed to the heatingblock 1. The heating block 1 sleeves on an outer circumference of theextension tube 22, and an outer diameter w2 of the extension tube 22 issmaller than an outer diameter w1 of the nozzle tube 2 and an outerdiameter w3 of the connecting tube 3 so that a spacing s will be formedbetween the heating block 1 and the extension tube 22. The heating block1 is used for heating of the nozzle tube 2 and the nozzle 21 for thermalconduction, and the spacing s is used to delay the heat transfer to theextension tube 22.

More details are descripted as follows. An outer peripheral surface ofthe nozzle tube 2 has first external threads 23, and a protrudingannular block 24 is provided at an outer peripheral edge of anintersection of the nozzle tube 2 and the nozzle 21. The first internalthreads 11 and the first external threads 23 are screwed together forthe nozzle tube 2 will be locked inside the heating block 1, and theprotruding annular block 24 blocks the heating block 1.

Besides, nozzles on markets or nozzles of prior art are mostly coppernozzle. The temperature of printing of copper nozzles is about 200degrees that leads to the nozzles cannot print materials at thetemperature higher than 300 degrees (metal materials). However, thenozzle tube 2 of the present embodiment is made of stainless steel(SUS303); thus, the nozzle tube 2 can print metal materials at hightemperatures (higher than 300 degrees).

Please refer to FIG. 3 to FIG. 6, the connecting tube 3 is connectedwith the extension tube 22. Besides, an outer periphery of theconnecting tube 3 has second outer threads 31, and the connecting tube 3has an annular portion 32 neighboring an outer periphery of an end ofthe extension tube 22. In the present embodiment, the connecting tube 3and the extension tube 22 are formed, but not limited to, as an integralpart. As shown in FIG. 3, 4 and FIG. 6, the print head 10 furtherincludes a heat sink set 4, and the heat sink set 4 sleeves on theconnecting tube 3. Furthermore, an outer periphery of the heat sink set4 has extended with a plurality of heat dissipating fins (not shown) forenhancing the heat dissipation of the connecting tube 3.

Further description is as follows. An inner periphery of the heat sinkset 4 has second internal threads 41; the second outer threads 31 andthe second internal threads 41 are screwed together so that the heatsink set 4 is locked at an outer of the connection pipe 3, and theannular portion 32 blocks the heat sink set 4.

Moreover, a helical direction of the first external threads 23 isopposite to a helical direction of the second external threads 31. Thus,in an unscrewing process of the heat sink set 4 and the connecting tube3, the heating block 1 and the nozzle tube 2 will not be loosen butscrewed more tightly because the threads has an opposite direction.Similarly, in an unscrewing process of the heating block 1 and thenozzle tube 2, the heat sink set 4 and the connecting tube 3 will not beloosen but screwed more tightly.

With referring to FIG. 3 to FIG. 6, an assembly and operating states ofthe print head 10 of the present invention, wherein the nozzle tube 2 isinserted in the heating block 1. One end of the nozzle tube 2 has anozzle 21 and the other end has extended with an extension tube 22exposed to the heating block 1. The connecting tube 3 is connected withthe extension tube 22. Thereby, the nozzle tube 2 has integrallyextended with an extension tube 22 exposed to the heating block 1 sothat the nozzle tube 2 disposed near the heating block 1 cannot bedisassembled. Thus, a process of replacing components by heating anozzle at high temperature can be bypassed, and advantages of quickdisassembly and easy maintenance of the print head of the presentinvention will be achieved.

In the present embodiment, the connecting tube 3, the extension tube 22and the nozzle 21 are integrally formed as in integral part. Whenclogging of the nozzle 21 cannot be excluded, the process of heating thenozzle 2 through the heating block 1 is bypassed due to the nozzlecannot be departed, and thus the heating block 1 and the nozzle tube 2are disassembled through threads to replace the whole nozzle tube 2 forfacilitating replacement by users themselves and reducing the risk ofburns.

Furthermore, as heat will be transmitted in a direction to largesurfaces, the outer diameter w2 of the extension tube 22 is smaller thanthe outer diameter w1 of the nozzle tube 2 and the outer diameter w3 ofthe connecting tube 3 for the heat of the heating block 1 can beaccumulated as much as possible at the nozzle 21 of the end of thenozzle tube 21. As a result, printing materials are uniformly heated andmelted only at the nozzle 21 to prevent the printing materials meltedand clogged at the extension pipe 22 or connecting tube 3, and thus theprint head 10 will not be clogged easily.

Please refer to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, they depict a second embodiment ofthe print head 10 of the present invention. The second embodiment issubstantially the same as the first embodiment. The second embodimentdiffers from the first embodiment in that the connecting tube 3 and theextending tube 22 are not integrally formed.

Further explanation is as follows. One end of the extension tube 22 andthe nozzle 22 are integrally formed. An outer periphery of the other endof the extension tube 22 has third external threads 221, and an innerperiphery of the connecting tube 3 has third internal threads 33,wherein the third external threads 221 and the third external threads 33are screwed together for combining the connecting tube 3 and theextension tube 22 instead of integrally formed. Thereby, the nozzle tube2 disposed near the heating block 1 cannot be disassembled to achievethe same function and effects as the first embodiment; however, theconnecting tube 3 and the extension tube 22 can be loosen by unscrewing,and the nozzle tube 2 can be departed from the connecting tube 3 asdemands.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to thepreferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the inventionis not limited to the details thereof. Various substitutions andimprovements have been suggested in the foregoing description, andothers will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, allsuch substitutions and improvements are intended to be embraced withinthe scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A print head with quick release mechanism,including: a heating block; a nozzle tube inserted in the heating block;one end of the nozzle tube having a nozzle and the other end extendingto form an extension tube exposed to the heating block; and a connectingtube connected with the extension tube, wherein the connecting tube andthe extension tube are integrally formed, and a top end of theconnecting tube is disposed over a top end of the heat sink set.
 2. Theprint head with quick release mechanism according to claim 1, wherein anouter diameter of the extension tube is smaller than an outer diameterof the nozzle tube and an outer diameter of the connecting tube.
 3. Theprint head with quick release mechanism according to claim 1, whereinthe heating block sleeves on an outer circumference of the extensiontube, and a spacing is formed between the heating block and theextension tube.
 4. The print head with quick release mechanism accordingto claim 1, wherein an inner peripheral surface of the heating block hasfirst internal threads, and an outer peripheral surface of the nozzletube has first external threads; the first internal threads and thefirst external threads are screwed together.
 5. The print head withquick release mechanism according to claim 4, wherein a protrudingannular block is provided at an outer peripheral edge of an intersectionof the nozzle tube and the nozzle, and the protruding annular blockblocks the heating block.
 6. The print head with quick release mechanismaccording to claim 4, further including a heat sink set, wherein theheat sink set sleeves on the connecting tube; an outer periphery of theconnecting tube has second outer threads, and an inner periphery of theheat sink set has second internal threads; the second outer threads andthe second internal threads are screwed together, and a helicaldirection of the first external threads is opposite to a helicaldirection of the second external threads.
 7. The print head with quickrelease mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the connecting tube hasan annular portion neighboring an outer periphery of an end of theextension tube, and the annular portion blocks the heat sink set.
 8. Theprint head with quick release mechanism according to claim 1, whereinthe nozzle tube is made of a stainless steel (SUS303).
 9. A print headwith quick release mechanism used for a material tube, the print headwith quick release mechanism including: a heating block; a nozzle tubeinserted in the heating block; one end of the nozzle tube having anozzle and the other end extending to form an extension tube exposed tothe heating block; and a connecting tube connected with the extensiontube, the material tube being inserted through the connecting tube andthe extension tube so that the connecting tube and the extension tubeare sleeved on the material tube.
 10. The print head with quick releasemechanism according to claim 9, wherein an outer diameter of theextension tube is smaller than an outer diameter of the nozzle tube andan outer diameter of the connecting tube.
 11. The print head with quickrelease mechanism according to claim 9, wherein the heating blocksleeves on an outer circumference of the extension tube, and a spacingis formed between the heating block and the extension tube.
 12. Theprint head with quick release mechanism according to claim 9, wherein aninner peripheral surface of the heating block has first internalthreads, and an outer peripheral surface of the nozzle tube has firstexternal threads; the first internal threads and the first externalthreads are screwed together.
 13. The print head with quick releasemechanism according to claim 12, wherein a protruding annular block isprovided at an outer peripheral edge of an intersection of the nozzletube and the nozzle, and the protruding annular block blocks the heatingblock.
 14. The print head with quick release mechanism according toclaim 12 further including a heat sink set, wherein the heat sink setsleeves on the connecting tube; an outer periphery of the connectingtube has second outer threads, and an inner periphery of the heat sinkset has second internal threads; the second outer threads and the secondinternal threads are screwed together, and a helical direction of thefirst external threads is opposite to a helical direction of the secondexternal threads.
 15. The print head with quick release mechanismaccording to claim 14, wherein the connecting tube has an annularportion neighboring an outer periphery of an end of the extension tube,and the annular portion blocks the heat sink set.
 16. The print headwith quick release mechanism according to claim 9, wherein theconnecting tube and the extension tube are integrally formed.
 17. Theprint head with quick release mechanism according to claim 9, whereinthe connecting tube and the extension tube are combined with each other;an outer periphery of the extension tube has third external threads, andan inner periphery of the connecting tube has third internal threads;the third external threads and the third internal threads are screwedtogether.
 18. The print head with quick release mechanism according toclaim 9, wherein the nozzle tube is made of a stainless steel (SUS303).